Geographically, Belize forms the southeast region of the Yucatan Peninsula, a narrow strip of land squeezed between the Caribbean Sea and eastern Guatemala, with Mexico's Yucatan to the north. Along its eastern shore the country is blessed with the Western Hemisphere's largest barrier reef, which is second in the world only to the one in Australia. Until 1973 it was known as British Honduras , it became independent in 1981, and remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Though it is in the heart of Central America, by temperament and stability, it is far removed from the civil turmoil associated with some of it's neighbors. It is English-speaking and the Belizean waters are among the finest in the western Caribbean for sailing and cruising. Too bad our time here is so short, but hurricane season is fast approaching and we need to get out!
We depart Honduras with just enough light to safely navigate out of the anchorage, on an overnight passage to Lighthouse Reef, one of only 4 coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere. The passage is rough and fast and we have to heave-to (stop the boat) for 3 hours in order to not arrive before daylight. After some confusion, we finally find the entrance in through the main reef and then pick our way safely through the smaller reefs to the anchorage just off Half Moon Caye, a bird sanctuary and the first national park created by the Belizean government after independence from Britain in 1981. The water colors are astounding with clarity never experienced before. It is so odd to be anchored with 12 inches under our keel rather than the usual 25 feet! A refreshing swim finds conch shells all about still inhabited by their little creatures and a manta ray swims right under our boat within meters of us!
We spent his special day on shore with the Atalanta's. First, we hiked the nature trail around the island on the beautiful, white sand path.
The interpretive signs tell of the changes Hurricane Mitch (1998) made to the island…one beach is wiped out while another is made a lot bigger. It is also clear where trees were snapped off like toothpicks. Huge iguanas scuttle about while the frigate birds and red-footed boobies nest in the trees all about. We climb up to the platform called the 'bird observatory' and enjoy a view from the same height as the tree tops into all the birds nests filled with babies. Some are already quite large, while others are clearly newly hatched. After a snorkel and play on the beach, we head back to Tioga for Gerrit's birthday supper, blackberry pie and gifts!
We arrived yesterday to Cucumber Beach Marina, just outside Belize City, strictly as a secure place to leave Tioga and Atlanta in order for the families to do one last inland trip together. The rental van arrived around noon and we were all loaded and ready to leave by 1pm. Yes…another excellent adventure for Tioga and Atalanta!
 |
| Typical van we would rent to accommodate 2 families. |
We drove straight to JB's restaurant which was recommended to us for a late lunch. The setting was quaint amongst much greenery and a great view behind us as we sat on the patio. Lunch was typical Belizean and consisted of stewed chicken with a mixture of rice and beans. Very tasty.
 |
| Inland trip begins. JBs for lunch. |
Thursday, April 29th, 2004 - Belize Zoo
After lunch, it was off to the Belize Zoo just down the road. It is home to a variety of indigenous Belizean cats and other animals kept in totally natural surroundings. The land has not been cleared, it is as if cages just appeared from nowhere and paths cut for tourists. The zoo got its start after the shooting of a wildlife film entitled 'Path of the Raingods'. By the time filming was over, the animals were partly tame and thus might not have survived well in the wild. Now, it is also home to orphaned, confiscated or injured animals as well. We were especially impressed by this keel-billed toucan's bright colors.
 |
| Beautiful keel-billed toucan |
As well as this tapir, Belize's national animal.
 |
| A tapir - they like to point their backsides at you and ...squirt... |
The zoo was also home to gibnuts or paca, a sort of rodent type animal, which was served to the Queen of England on her last visit, jaguars, which were blacker than night, howler monkeys with a baby teetering in the branches right above our heads, grey wolf pups who thought they were hidden between two tree trunks (so cute), and the majestic Harpee Eagle, what an impressive bird! A few hours drive found us in the village of Bullet Tree, named after the tree with the 2nd hardest wood in Belize (Iron Wood tree being the hardest), where we had booked rooms at the Parrots Nest Lodge.
 |
| Beautiful little accommodation at Parrots Nest Lodge. |
Friday, April 30th, 2004 - Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Western Belize has lots of beautiful, unspoiled mountain country dotted with waterfalls and teeming with exotic flora and fauna. Almost 800 sq. km. to the south and east of the town of San Ignacio has been set aside as the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. We hire a local guide, Teddy, for the day to help us navigate the rough forest roads which are often impassable in the wet season, and not much better now, late into dry season! On our way to the Barton Creek caves, the road oddly enough passed through an Amish-type community of European descendants. We saw horse and carts with men who don't shave in uniform type clothing. Apparently, they live in the back country where they literally live off the land and don't let things like electricity and modern machinery into their lives.
 |
| Fording a river in the Mountain Pine Ridge forest |
1:50 pm - Barton Creek Caves
Next we arrive at the Barton Creek caves, believed to be the entrance to the underworld by the Maya who lived here for centuries in total dark. To go inside the caves, we rent a couple of canoes from some Canadians from Ontario who operate a rental place at the site and head into the cave.
 |
| Into the Barton Creek caves. Ginny and Michael. |
Our canoes are rigged with a battery and lights and once inside the cave, we pull the canoes side by side and proceed as a single unit. Stalagmites grow from the ground meeting the stalactites growing from the ceiling in places. Apparently they grow up to 1 inch per year as the water drips leaving the mineral, or sediment of calcium to grow. It would appear that eventually access to the caves will be closed off as passage is already quite tight in spots. Teddy tells us the Maya lived in these caves as they were much less harsh than the jungle surrounding the area. Teddy would point out pottery and human skulls on the edges of the cave, placed there for tourists to see but none the less, found in the cave. At one point, we stopped and shut all the lights off and everyone was silent. Really cool feeling as your eyes would scramble for something to grasp onto. Absolute and total darkness and silence…a sensation our society totally lacks these days. As the water would drip from the ceiling and stalactites, Teddy spoke about it being good luck to have a drop fall into your mouth. We maneuvered the canoes numerous times in order for us all to have claim to this good omen! There was black goo on the wall as a sign bats live here and sure enough, Teddy shines his light into some crevasses to reveal bats hanging onto one another throughout the cave. At the last bend on the way out, we turned the lights out again until we rounded the corner and daylight flooded us once again.
 |
| Drip ... drip ... drip ... |
5:11 pm - Hidden Valley Falls
After a picnic lunch, we head off to swim at the Hidden Valley Waterfalls, a silver cascade which plunges almost 500 meters! Everyone swam to the foot of the falls and then took turns climbing right up inside the waterfall. There was a lot of current and force as the water tumbled over you so bracing oneself very well was a must. A few brave souls including Joel and Gerrit, climbed the cliffs in order to jump into the pool below the falls....'yikes', says Sheila. After a few final stops to admire views, we return to San Ignacio for a great supper at a family restaurant called Hode's.
 |
| Refreshing Hidden Valley Falls. We dive from the middle rocks. |
Saturday, May 1st, 2004 - San Ignacio, Belize - Iguana Project
The San Ignacio Hotel houses a 'raise and release' iguana project with the aim of increasing the iguana numbers in the wild. Today's guide, Martin, was an incredibly patient and gifted teacher who allowed us all a totally cool homeschooling learning experience.
 |
| The kids with Martin the iguana keeper |
 |
| Baby iguana |
The story goes something like this. Once inside the iguana green house, Martin had the kids spotting as many iguanas as they could. There were over 30 baby iguanas, but their bright green color totally camouflaged them and they were hard to spot! Apparently, they remain this bright green until they are about 2 years old so they are camouflaged on the ground and are not such easy prey.
Joel spotted a large, grown-up iguana. Martin began to explain that she was a mother about to lay eggs. He looked at her and her abdomen was totally caved in…he excitedly explained she must have just laid her eggs within the past 30 minutes because the last time he saw her, she was huge and barely able to move. Martin found the spot she laid the eggs and let the kids gently dig them out! They took turns digging eggs and laying them orderly to the side..all 46 of them!!. They were very soft and felt much like leather. Then, Martin brought down a container for the kids to gently put the eggs into and he let them carry the bin up to the incubator where they were able to transfer the eggs into the incubator and cover them with soil where they will incubate for about 90 days before hatching.
 |
| Eggs get buried in the incubator |
He then had the kids help him inspect the mother for ticks to ensure she was healthy. He also showed us iguanas have a third eye (tertiary eye) on top of their heads to see above them. We then all walked with him down to the Macal River where she was to be released now that she had laid her eggs in captivity. All the kids got to take turns carrying the mother and finally she was released in the water. She was still in 'hiding from us' mode and she lay there for about a minute before realizing she was free and off she went in a flash!
 |
| Mother iguana about to be released after laying eggs in captivity. |
After a quick lunch, we cross the border in Guatemala and drive to the town of El Peten and checked into La Casa De Don David. Very nice place with a lush green fresh garden and a huge gazebo with hammocks all about. The kids ran to their hearts content while we relaxed before supper. Off to the Mayn ruins at Tikal tomorrow.
 |
| Monkeys all about. |
Sunday, May 2nd, 2004 - Ancient Mayan city of Tikal, Guatemala
Wow, where to begin with this grand Mayan city. At its height of time, it sprawled over 30 sq. kms. so you can imagine we did not even scratch its surface in our short day trip here. Its towering pyramids rise out above the jungle's green canopy to amazing heights.
 |
| Temple I from behind |
Tikal's long history is believed to have begun around 700BC when the Maya settled here. Maya Civilization, an ancient Native American culture, represents one of the most advanced civilizations in the western hemisphere before the arrival of Europeans. By the time of Christ, Tikal's Great Plaza was beginning to take it's present shape and by 250AD, Tikal was an important religious, cultural and commercial city with a large population, accounts of 50,000-100,000 people. By the mid 500's it was at its height but it took a turn for the worse for a couple hundred years when the people of another great Mayan city, Caracol (in south-west Belize) conquered Tikal's king and sacrificed him. Around 700AD, a new and powerful king named 'Ah-Cacau '(Lord Chocolate) restored not only its military strength, but its status as the most splendid city in the Mayan world. He and his successors were responsible for building most of the great temples around the Great Plaza, which survive today. The towering Temple 1 ( Temple of the Grand Jaguar), was built by Ah-Cacau's son who succeeded his throne, to honour and bury the great King Ah-Cacau under it. The greatness of Tikal collapsed around 900AD as part of a mysterious general collapse of Mayan civilization.
 |
| Temple I from above the Grand Plaza |
The Great Plaza and its surrounding constituted the core of Tikal. We explore about and then it's time for the big climb.
 |
| Inside the Grand Plaza |
 |
| Eerily Temple IV sits off in the jungle. |
We walk through the jungle over to Temple IV.
 |
| Steps up to Temple IV |
At 64 metres, it is the highest Indian building known in the western hemisphere. It was completed in 741AC, in the reign of Ah-Caca's son. We clamber up the steep steps and climb to the base of the roofcomb for yet another wonderful view above the canopy.
 |
| View from the top of Temple IV |
 |
| Gerrit still having fun the the down pour. |
Chris, the weatherman, however also spots ominous dark clouds in the distance and suggests we all make a break for the museum at the entrance. But his warning falls on unreceptive ears and the rest of us persist in some further stops. Well, we get caught big time by what appears to be the season's first big rain! We wait and wait all huddled under a picnic canopy along with tons of other locals as the sheets of rain come down. After about 2 hours, we realize this rain is not stopping and we make a run for it. We are a long way from our van so everyone is totally soaked by the time we get there. Next time, we'll listen to Chris!
Monday, May 3rd, 2004 - Ferry crossing
On our way back to the marina, we decide to stop at one last Mayan site, Xunantunich (pronounced shoo-nahn-too-neech). In order to access it, we must take this small, hand- cranked ferry across a river.
 |
| Car ferry to Xuantunich |
Monday, May 3rd, 2004 - Ancient Mayan City of Xunantunich, Belize
The Belizeans claim this to be the best Mayan site in Belize, thus it is their archaeological pride. Xunantunich, meaning 'stone maiden', is set on a leveled hilltop overlooking the Mopan (or Belize) river. Not much is known about this tiny ruin except that it controlled the riverside track leading from Tikal in Guatemala down to the Caribbean Sea and a ceremonial centre flourished here during the Classic period. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a damaging earthquake in about 900AD, after which it may have been largely abandoned. We found it a very nice,well maintained site that was a great size for the kids to easily run about and explore.
 |
| Beautiful vistas at Xunantunich |
 |
| Intricate carvings on el Castillo |
The tallest structure 'El Castillo', is very impressive as it rises some 40 meters above the jungle floor. It contains a late dated 'frieze', or decorative horizontal band, depicting images from classic Mayan mythology. Friezes were often an important feature in ancient temples. We climbed to the top of this structure where kings of the past would have addressed their people expecting full attention. Funny, Chris and Michael tried getting the people mulling about down below to address them with out any luck at all! Our tour of Xunantunich completed our inland trip and it was back to the boats with a quick depart on our minds.
Wednesday, May 5th, - Working our way north through the reefs
The excellent cruising grounds north of Belize City are where the larger island settlements are found. Eyeball navigation is tricky in these shallow waters as greenish water prevails over the shallow grassy flats, thus constant reference to guide books and exact position must be known. There are areas of controlling depths of 5.5 feet thus we travel at high tide to give us some slack as we move from cay to cay. We spy this local vessel way out ahead of us and...the race was on. As we passed him, we called out to him, 'what a beautiful boat'! It turned out we saw this vessel numerous times in our travels.
 |
| Working our way through the reefs |
Friday, May 7th, - Town of San Pedro, on Ambergris Cay, Belize
We finally reach Ambergris Cay, which as an island, is the northernmost barrier reef cay in Belize. It is named after the gray waxy substance excreted by sperm whales and used in perfume, which was found on these beaches by early explorers. We anchored just off the town of San Pedro, an attractive fishing town that is exploding with tourism.
 |
| San Pedro's main street on Ambergris Cay |
Its clapboard houses with immaculate, hard-packed sand roads lined with colorful shops and restaurants, were fun to explore in the golf cart we rented.
 |
| Crazy Canucks Bar in San Pedro |
We even found the 'Crazy Canuck' bar on the beach that was recommended to us by our friends whom recently visited here from Calgary. The owner of the bar is another Calgarian trying to make a go of it as this tiny island becomes more and more known.
 |
| No this isn't our check out of Belize. |
Our final check-out from Belize is also done here as we are awaiting weather to cross the Caribbean Sea with a landfall of Cuba in our sights. Saturday, May 8th produces a go-now or wait-a-week weather window so we enjoy one last night out in San Pedro with our good friends on s/v Atalanta and then Sunday morning, it is 'good-bye' as Tioga heads out on a long passage alone for the first time since our travels back in Mexico. Cuba, here we come!
Next up is Cuba in Log 23. Join us as we make our way through the reefs.
